February 2, 2024
“Michaela did us the absolute HONOR of shooting our wedding photos. She captured our love perfectly. We will always treasure being able to look back and remember authentic emotions from our day because of how magically she documented them… Her style is so unique and is just what I was looking for. Photography is the scariest vendor to book: You are fully relying on an individual to capture your love… I would recommend Michaela over and over again!”
– Peggy, Bride
The day Peggy and Christian said their ‘I do’s’ was easily a documentary-style wedding photographer’s dream come true. From the magical setting of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the way the sunlight illuminated the newlyweds’ every touch and turn, each part of the day was about capturing what was unfolding right before our very eyes. I really think that the best and most beautiful way to tell a story is to allow the day to be what it is and the couple to be who they are within those treasured hours.
It was important to Peggy and Christian that the day be carefree and centered around their families, and I have every reason to believe that the wedding location at Delaney Ridge, nestled away in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, helped make this possible. (As did the incredible Squirrel’s Nest Events!) There’s so much value in choosing a venue that speaks for itself, that tells a story with its beauty alone. We had so many opportunities to capture such a sweet and joyful love story in various vignettes— under the branches of a willow tree while the couple exchanged vows, in an open meadow lined by the mountains with the sunlight grazing the bride’s veil, shrouded by the forest with family and friends surrounding the bride and groom— because of that natural beauty. The whimsical vibe of Peggy’s bridal bouquet, crafted by Wildwood Flower Shop, with its tones of blush, oranges, and creams stood in tasteful contrast to the blue of the sky, greens of the valley, and browns of the tree bark. Truly such a vibrant setting!
I always like to start the day with the detail shots, capturing the mementos that mark a couple’s milestones. This gives me a chance to settle into the surroundings as the day is slowly getting underway so that I can help my couples do the same. Peggy’s pearl earrings, Christian’s watch and Texas A&M ring, and a few bits from both of their grandparents, set against a rock outside of the venue, acted as the opening lines of the wedding story. I then joined Peggy and her mom as they got ready together in hair and makeup (Just Wing It Artistry). It’s such an honor to be welcomed into these intimate, precious moments of a wedding, and I felt so lucky to be there for this mother-daughter magic as Peggy’s mom helped her get into her beautiful dress (Heart to Heart Bridal).
As a documentary-style wedding photographer, I often find myself being warmly welcomed into the relationships that have shaped the bride and groom to this point in their lives, choosing forever together. I’m a human-first, business owner-second kind of photographer, and I always leave a wedding day feeling so blessed that I got to spend the day becoming friends with the couple’s guests.
With Peggy’s and Christian’s families’ love for them being so evident, this feeling was especially true for me in this North Carolina adventure. Peggy’s “Pop-Pop” (grandpa) officiated the ceremony, and I just know that the photographs of him grinning from ear to ear at the top of the aisle will be so precious to the couple as they shape their lives together, as will the traditional family photos captured in the North Carolina wilderness.
One glance at these wedding photos and you’ll probably think: “Wait, is that couple glowing?!” They sure are! Not only were their bright smiles and overjoyed expressions written all over every second, but the sunlight put on such a show for us. From finding stunning lighting beneath the branches of a willow tree for the vow exchange to following the light (via my rental car, no less!) into an open valley bordered by the Blue Ridge peaks, we had so many opportunities to chase the sun. As the day came to a close, we even took one last moment to follow the sun from the top of the valley where the venue was located to the bottom of the valley where the sun was bidding its ado.
Some photographers might shy away from direct light, but I find that the lighting is crucial to my approach as a documentary-style photographer. The direct light can bring so much glow and contrast to the details of the day! I can do a lot of things with a camera, but commanding the sun is not one of those things. The lighting is just one of the elements of a wedding day that can help tell the story in an authentic way. To embrace what is actually there instead of wish that the circumstances were different (when they are exactly as they are meant to be on your special day) is one of the best things I can offer you as your wedding photographer.
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